Reproducing apparatus, data processing method, and reproduction system

ABSTRACT

A content data recording and reproducing apparatus including a content data output device, enabling the content to be reproduced to be determined while displaying a content list on an eternal output device, communicates with the output device, and controls the output device to output data. The apparatus has a data line configured to transfer data among connected parts, a recording part on which content data is recorded, a reproduction and output part configured to reproduce and outputting the content data transferred from the recording part, an interface for communicating with the output device, an operation part connected to the data line, a display configured to display operation screen data including attribute information of the content data, and a control part configured to transmit the content data read out from the recording part to the output device via the interface baaed on an instruction input from the operation part and suspend the display of the operation screen when communication with the output device is established.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject scatter related to JapanesePatent application No. 2005-141249 filed in the Japan Patent Office onMay 13, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus, a dataprocessing method, and a reproduction system communicating with anexternal output device and able to make the external output devicereproduce and output the content data.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a mobile recording and reproducing apparatus mounting alarge capacity recording apparatus has been developed. Such an apparatuscompresses and records audio, movies, still images, and other contentdata and decodes the compressed data to reproduce the content data. Thecontent data to be reproduced is output from a small sized liquidcrystal monitor, headphone terminal, small sized speakers, and otheroutput devices mounted an the mobile recording and reproducingapparatus.

However, the small sized output devices mounted on the mobile recordingand reproducing apparatus as described above had disadvantages such asdifficult viewing, poor sound quality, and troublesome headphones. Inorder to overcome the above disadvantages, output using an externaloutput device such as speakers is considered, but even in that case, itis necessary to view the output of a small sized output device in orderto determine which content is to be reproduced, therefore thedisadvantage such as difficult viewing of the small sized output deviceremains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore desirable to provide a reproducing apparatus, a dataprocessing method, and a reproduction system able to utilize thereproduction output function of an external output device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided areproducing apparatus having a data line configured to transfer dataamong connected parts, a recording part on which content data isrecorded, a reproduction and output part configured to reproduce thecontent data transferred from the recording part via the data line andoutput the same, an interface for communicating with an external outputdevice, an operation part connected to the data line, a displayconfigured to display operation screen data including attributeinformation of the content data, and a control part configured totransmit the content data read out from the recording part to theexternal output defies via the interface based on an instruction inputfrom the operation part and suspend the display of the operation screenonto the display, when communication with the external output device isestablished via the interface.

Preferably, the control part may suspend the reproduction and outputpart may reproduce and output the content data read out from therecording part based on an instruction input from the operation partwhen judging that communication with the external output device has notbeen established.

Alternatively, the control part may suspend the display of the selectionscreen on the display and may make the external output device transmitthe operation screen data through the interface when judging thatcommunication with the external output device has been established.

More preferably the control part may update data relating to theoperation screen based on the instruction from the operation part.

Alternatively, more preferably, the operation display data may includelist data indicating a plurality of content data.

Still more preferably, the control part may read out selected contentdata and make the external output device transmit the read selectedcontent data through the interface when recalling an operation commandfor selecting predetermined content data from the list data from theoperation part.

Alternatively still more preferably, the recording part may recordbookmark data indicating whether each of the content data has beenbookmarked, and the control part may generate a list of bookmarked dataas operation screen data based on the bookmark data read out from therecording part and may make the external output device transmit theoperation screen data through the interface, when establishingcommunication with the external output device.

Alternatively, the recording part may record image data, and the controlpart may transmit the image data read out from the recording part to theexternal output device through the interface linked with the operationscreen data and may make the external output device display an operationscreen in accordance with the operation screen data having an imageaccording to the image data as a background.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided adata processing method executed by a content reproducing apparatusincluding a display, the method including: establishing communicationwith an external output device, suspending the display of attributeinformation of content data onto the display, reading the content datadesignated by an operation instruction from a recording part whenreceiving the operation instruction and transmitting the same to theexternal output device by the communication established at theestablishing, and controlling the reproduction output by the externaloutput device of the content data transmitted at the reading.

According to other embodiment of the invention there is provided acontent reproduction system configured by a content reproducingapparatus and an external output device communicating with the contentreproducing apparatus, wherein the reproducing apparatus is configuredby a data line configured to transfer data among connected parts, arecording part on which content data is recorded, a reproduction andoutput part configured to reproduce the content data transferred fromthe recording part via the data line and output the same, an interfacefor communicating with an outside, an operation part connected to thedata line, a display configured to display operation screen dataincluding attribute information of the content data, and a control partconfigured to transmit the content data read out from the recording partto the external output device via the interface based on an instructioninput from the operation part and suspend the display of the operationscreen onto the display, when communication with the external outputdevice is established via the interface, and the external output deviceis configured by an input part receiving as input the data from thereproducing apparatus via the interface, and an output part configuredto output the content data transmitted from the reproducing apparatusvia the interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome clearer from the following description of the preferredembodiments given with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining attributes assigned to track datastored by the mobile audio player of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a playlist of the track datastored in a hard disk drive;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an example of operation in a casewhere the mobile audio player is not connected with a television set;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a case where the mobile audio player ofthe present embodiment is connected with a television set;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in thecase where the mobile audio player is connected with a television set;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of display of a display of atelevision set according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player accordingto the present embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram in the ease where the mobile audio playerof the present embodiment is connected with a television set; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation inthe case where the mobile audio player is connected with a televisionset.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Below, an explanation will be given of mobile audio players according toembodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

First, the correspondence between components of the present embodimentand components of the present invention will be explained. The trackdata of the present embodiment is an example of the content data of thepresent invention. Further, a hard disk drive (HDD) 13 of the presentembodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the recording means of thepresent invention, an audio output device 18 is an example of thereproducing and outputting means of the present invention, a datatransmission circuit 20 is an example of the interface of the presentinvention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 14 is an example of thedisplay of the present invention, a television set (TV) 4 is an exampleof the external output device of the present invention, and a remotecontroller 5 is an example of the operating means of the presentinvention. Further, a program PRG shown in FIG. 1 is an example of theprogram of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player 1according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,the mobile audio player 1 has, for example, a universal serial bus (USB)interface 11, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) 12, HDD13, LCD panel 14, input device 15, flash memory 16, central processingpart (CPU) 17, audio output circuit 18, remote control reception part19, data transmission circuit 20, and headphone terminal 21. The USBinterface 11, SDRAM 12, HDD 13, flash memory 18, CPU 17, audio outputdevice 18, remote control reception part 19, and data transmissioncircuit 20 are connected via for example a data line 10.

The USB interface 11 is connected to for example a personal computer 3and inputs/outputs data with the personal computer 3. The SDRSM 12temporarily stores data etc. relating to the processing of the CPU 17.

The HDD 13 stores compressed track data (music data) etc. This trackdata etc, are written from the personal computer 3 into the HDD 13 viathe USB interface 11. The HDD 13 has a storage capacity of for example20 GB and can store the track data of about 10,000 tracks (700 compactdisks' worth of data) compressed by adaptive transform acoustic coding(ATRAC) 3 or the like. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the attributesassigned to the track data stored by the mobile audio player 1 of thepresent embodiment. Each of the track data stored in the HDD 13(hereinafter also simply referred to as “track data”) is linked, asshown in FIG. 2, with identification data M₁₃ ID, artist name data AR_N,album name data AL_N, and track name data T_N by management dataTABLE_1. The management data TABLE_1 is stored in the HDD 13 and readout at the time of for example startup of the mobile audio player 1.

The LCD panel 14 is provided an for example a front surface of themobile audio player 1. Various screens are displayed by the CPU 17. Asthe main screen displayed on the LCD panel 14, for example, there are amenu screen, a track selection screen, a setup screen, and areproduction screen. These screens are switched in response to a keyoperation of the user, a touch panel is mounted on the LCD panel 14. Itdetects the position on the screen touched by the user by his fingeretc. and outputs a detection position signal S14 indicating the positionto the CPU 17.

The input device 15 is including various keys provided in cases of themobile audio player 1 and operated by the user. The user can input datafrom the touch panel counted on the LCD panel 14 or the input device 15and store it in the HDD 13.

The flash memory 16 stores for example the program PRG defining theoperation of the CPU 17.

The audio output circuit 18 outputs an audio signal in accordance withthe track data detected by the CPU 17 to the headphone terminal 21.

The remote control reception part 19 receives the signal from anexternal output device, for example, the remote controller 5 of the TV4.

The data transmission circuit. 20 transmits the management data TABLE_1stored in the HDD 13, the control data, the track data, etc. to the TV4.

The CPU 17 centrally controls the operation of the mobile audio player 1in the present embodiment based on the program PRG read out from theflash memory 16. Further, the CPU 17 reads out the selected track datafrom the HDD 13 and decodes and outputs this to the audio output circuit18.

Next, an explanation will be given of the playlist of the mobile audioplayer 1 of the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is adiagram showing an example of the playlist of the track data stored inthe HDD 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the playlist records the artist name, the trackname, the album name, a start time “Start”, an end time “End”, andbookmark information “Bookmark” for a certain track A.

As this playlist, one automatically generated by the CPU 17 baaed on themanagement data TABLE_1 or one generated on application software of a PCand transferred to the mobile audio player is stored in the HDD 13. Asequence of tracks described in the playlist can be set by the user.Various playlists can be prepared from a variety of viewpoints.

The start time “Start” represents the start time of a track on thatplaylist, while the end time “End” represents the end time of the trackon the playlist.

The bookmark information “Bookmark” is information expressing whether ornot a track is preferred by the user. By adding bookmark information toa track preferred by the uses, the information of the preferred tracksof the user can be judged from the playlist. The user can add thebookmark information from time to time by using the LCD panel 14 orinput device 15.

In the present embodiment, the mobile audio player 1 has two operationformats according to whether or not it is connected with the TV 4. Inthe following description, these two operation formats will beexplained. Note that, the mobile audio player 1 is connected with the TV4 by for example an AV cable.

A first operation format is a casa where the mobile audio player 1 isnot connected with the TV, in which the mobile audio player 1 reproducesthe track data, and outputs audio by using the audio output circuit 18.FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in acase where the mobile audio player 1 is not connected with the TV.

Step ST1

The CPU 17 performs for example a check of an AV output cable terminaland confirms that the mobile audio player 1 is not connected with theTV.

Step ST2

The CPU 17 decides if the mobile audio player 1 is in a bookmark mode,proceeds to step ST3 in the case of the bookmark mode, while proceeds tostep ST4 not in the case of the bookmark mode. The bookmark mode is themode in which only tracks given the above bookmark information erereproduced.

Step ST3

The CPU 17 prepares the list data of only the tracks given the bookmarkinformation among tracks stored in the HDD 13. The list data is dataincluding the above playlist.

Step ST4

The CPU 17 prepares a list of all tracks stored in the HDD 13.

Step ST5

The CPU 17 displays the list prepared at step ST3 or step ST4 on the LCDpanel 14.

Step ST6

The user refers to the list displayed on the LCD panel 14, determinesthe track to be reproduced, then inputs a reproduction command from theinput device 15 or the touch panel of the LCD panel 14.

Step ST7

The CPU 17 selects and reproduces the track data to be reproduced fromthe HDD 13 in response to the reproduction command of step ST3.

Step ST8

The audio output circuit 18 outputs the track reproduced at step ST1through the headphone terminal 21.

The second operation format is the case where the mobile audio player 1is connected with the TV 4, and the mobile audio player 1 controls theTV 4 to reproduce and output the track data.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the case where the mobile audio player1 of the present embodiment is connected with the TV. As shown in FIG.5, the mobile audio player 1 transmits the list data, the control data,and the track data to the TV 4. The list data is data including theabove playlist.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in thecase where the mobile audio player 1 is connected with the TV.

Step ST11

The CPU 17 performs for example a check of the AV output cable terminaland confirms that the mobile audio player 1 is connected with the TV 4.

Step ST12

When the connection is confirmed at step ST11, the CPU 17 turns off thepower supply of the display part (LCD panel 14) of the mobile audioplayer 1.

Step ST13

The CFG 17 decides if the mobile audio player 1 has entered the bookmarkmode, proceeds to step ST14 in the ease of the bookmark mode, whileproceeds to step ST15 not in the case of the bookmark mode.

Step ST14

The CPU 17 prepares list data of only the tracks given the bookmarkinformation among tracks stored in the HDD 13. The data transmissioncircuit 20 transmits this as the list data to the TV 4.

Step ST15

The CFG 17 prepares a list of all tracks stored in the HDD 13. The datatransmission circuit 20 transmits this as the list data to the TV 4.

Step ST16

The TV 4 receiving the list data at step ST14 and step ST15 displays thelist and the image on the display part (display). FIG. 7 is a diagramshowing an example of display of the display of the TV 4 according tothe present embodiment. The user refers to the list displayed on thedisplay of the TV 4, determines the track to be reproduced, andtransmits the instruction of reproduction via the remote controller 5.

Step ST17

The remote control reception part 19 receives the control signal fromthe remote controller 5 transmitted at step ST16. The control signalfrom the remote controller 5 will be explained later.

Step ST18

The CPU 17 selects the track data to be reproduced based on the controlsignal from the remote controller 5.

Step ST19

The data transmission circuit 20 transmits the track data selected atstep ST18 and the control data to the TV 4. The TV 4 receiving the trackdata and the control data reproduces the track and outputs it from theaudio output part (speaker).

Next, an explanation will be given of the control signal issued by theremote controller 5. The remote controller 5 is a remote controller foroperating the TV 4, therefore many of the buttons are for operating theTV 4. However, the TV 4 has entered into the external input mode whendisplaying the list data etc. from the mobile audio player 1. In thiscase, unused buttons exist or the remote controller 5. If signalscorresponding to these buttons are previously stored in the SDRAM 12etc. as a remote controller correspondence table TABLE_2, when themobile audio player utilizes the TV 4 as an external output device, itbecomes possible to operate the mobile audio player 1 by using theremote controller 5 without operating the TV 4.

As explained above, the mobile audio player 1 of the present embodimentis connected with the TV 4 and therefore can make the TV 4 displayinformation such as the track list and can make it output the audio fromthe speaker of the TV according to the remote controller S operated bythe user. Namely, the remote operation of both of the TV 4 and themobile audio player 1 can be carried out by one remote controller 5 ofthe TV 4, therefore trouble in operation can be omitted. Further, trackselection can be carried out on the display of the TV 4 larger than theLCD panel 14 of the mobile audio player 1, and the selected track can beoutput from the speaker of the TV 4, therefore a favorite track can beeasily listened to by a home theater system including a TV. Further,when the mobile audio player 1 and the TV 4 are connected, the LCD panel14 of the mobile audio player 1 is turned off and the list is displayedon the display of the TV in place of this, therefore the powerconsumption of the mobile audio player 1 due to the track selectionoperation of the user can be suppressed. Further, by the bookmark mode,the user can display a list of only the preferred tracks on the TV 4, sothe trouble of retrieving the track data to be reproduced can beeliminated.

Second Embodiment

In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given of an examplewhere the remote controller 5 of the TV 4 is not used, but the mobileaudio player 1 a itself is used as the remote controller when connectingthe mobile audio player 1 a according to the present embodiment and theTV 4 and reproducing a track. Note that, in the present embodiment, themobile audio player la and the TV 4 are connected by for exampleinfrared ray communication etc.

The correspondence between the components of the present embodiment andthe components of the present invention will be explained. The mobileaudio player 1 a of the present embodiment is an example of theoperating means of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player 1 aaccording to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the mobileaudio player 1 a has for example a USB interface 11, SDRAM 12, HDD 13,LCD panel 14, input device 15, flash memory 18, CPU 17 a, audio outputdevice 18, data transmission circuit 20, and headphone terminal 21. TheUSB interface 11, SDRAM 12, HDD 13, LCD panel 14, input device 15, flashmemory 16, CPU 17 a, audio output device 18, data transmission circuit20, and headphone terminal 21 of the present second embodiment are thesame as the USB interface 11, SDRAM 12, HDD 13, LCD panel 14, inputdevice 15, flash memory 16, audio output device 18, and headphoneterminal 21 of the first embodiment.

Next, an explanation will be given of the AV output function of themobile audio player 1 a according to the present embodiment withreference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the case wherethe mobile audio player 1 a of the present embodiment is connected withthe TV. As shown in FIG. 9, the mobile audio player 1 a transmits listdata, control data, and track data to the TV 4.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation inthe case where the mobile audio player 1 a is connected with the TV.Note that the example of operation in the case where the mobile audioplayer 1 a is not connected with the TV is the same as the example ofoperation of the mobile audio player 1 explained with references to FIG.4 in the first embodiment.

Step ST21 to step ST26 in FIG. 10 correspond to step ST11 to step ST16in the first embodiment, therefore an explanation will be given of step27 and the following steps here.

Step ST27

The user operates the input device 15 or the touch panel of the LCDpanel 14, selects the track to he reproduced, from the list displayed inthe display, and inputs it as the control signal.

Step ST28

The CPU 17 a selects the track data to be reproduced based on thecontrol signal input at step ST27.

Step ST29

The data transmission circuit 20 transmits the track data and thecontrol data toward the TV 4 based on the input of the input device 15operated at step ST27. The TV 4 receiving the track data and the controldata reproduces the track and outputs it from the audio output part(speaker).

As explained above, the mobile audio player 1 a of the presentembodiment can make the TV 4 reproduce a track by just operating themobile audio player 1 a without using the remote controller 5 of the TV4. Further, in addition to the above description, it is possible to alsooperate the TV 4 from the mobile audio player 1 a to for example changethe mode to the external input mode and adjust the volume and soundquality on the TV side.

Third Embodiment

In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given of a slide showfunction of the mobile audio player 1 b. Note that, it is assumed thatthe mobile audio player 1 b of the present embodiment has the sameconfiguration as that of the audio player 1 of the first embodimentexcept for a CPU 17 b.

The image data of the present embodiment is an example of the image dataof the present invention.

In the audio player 1 b of the present embodiment, when the CPU 17 bprepares a list of tracks, the data transmission circuit 20 transmits itto the TV 4 as the list data. The image data stored in the HDD 13 can besimultaneously transmitted and can be displayed in the display of the TV4 simultaneously with the track list. Further, for example, it is alsopossible to switch and display a plurality of images any time or switchthem by the operation of the user (slide show).

The processing of the mobile audio player 1 b is for example as follows.First, when the CPU 17 b prepares a list to be sent to the TV 4, the HDD13 is simultaneously retrieved to detect the image data. This detectionis carried out by retrieving for example the format of the file in theHDD 13 (for example jpeg).

Next, when the data transmission circuit 20 transmits the list data, itsimultaneously also transmits the detected image data. The TV 4receiving the list data and the image data displays the list on thedisplay and simultaneously displays the image as background of the list.

As the image displayed at this time, the image data stored in the HDD 13may be displayed at random, or an image previously linked with the trackto be reproduced may be displayed.

As explained above, the mobile audio player 1 b of the presentembodiment can make the TV 4 display an image simultaneously with thelist and can selectively display an image linked with the track. Due tothis, the user can watch an image with a larger screen than that of themobile audio player 1 b and can enjoy music with speakers larger thanthose of the mobile audio player 1 b. Note that the audio player 1 baccording to the present embodiment was made the same configuration asthat of the audio player 1 of the first embodiment, but may have thesame configuration as that of the audio player 1 a of the secondembodiment.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

In the above first embodiment, the mobile audio player 1 and the TV 4are connected by an AV cable or the like, while in the secondembodiment, the mobile audio player 1 a and the TV 4 are connected byinfrared ray communication etc., but the present invention is notlimited to these formats. Namely, they may be connected by any of an AVcable, infrared ray communication, and a wireless LAN. Further, in theabove embodiments, the remote controller 5 is provided in the TV 4, butmay be a general purpose remote controller for home AV systems. Further,in the above embodiments, track data was given as an example of thecontest data, but still image data, movie image data, etc. may be set asthe content data. Further, in the above embodiments, the mobile audioplayers 1, 1 a, and 1 b were given as examples of the electronicapparatuses of the present invention, but for example a mobile phone maybe used as the electronic apparatus of the present invention. Also, theabove functions may be satisfied by linking accessories.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An information processing apparatus comprising: a display; a touch panel that detects a user operation; and a circuit configured to reproduce content, at the information processing apparatus, and communicate with an external device via wireless communication; wherein the circuit is configured to: determine the content reproduced at the external device based on the user operation detected by the touch panel; control reproduction of the content at the external device and adjust an audio volume of the content output from the external device.
 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit controls displaying information related to the content on the display.
 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information related to the content is attribute information of the content.
 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is further configured to stop reproducing the content at the information processing apparatus while the content is being reproduced at the external device.
 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is further configured to turn off the display of the information processing apparatus while the content is being reproduced at the external device.
 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the circuit is configured to reproduce the content selected from a plurality of content stored in the memory based on the user operation.
 17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to control adjustment of the sound quality of the content output from the external device.
 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content is image content or music content.
 19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the image content is a still image or a moving image.
 20. An information processing apparatus comprising: a display; a touch panel detects a user operation; and a circuit configured to reproduce content at the information processing apparatus and communicate with an external device via wireless communication, wherein the circuit is configured to: determine the content to be reproduced based on the user operation detected by the touch panel; transmit a first instruction to reproduce the content at the external device; and transmit a second instruction to control an audio volume of the content output from the external device.
 21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuit controls displaying information related to the content on the display.
 22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the information related to the content is attribute information of the content.
 23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuity configured to stop reproducing the content at the information processing apparatus while the content is reproduced at the external device.
 24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to turn off the display of the information processing apparatus while the content is being reproduced at the external device.
 25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a memory, wherein the circuit is configured to reproduce the content selected from a plurality of content stored in the memory based on the user operation.
 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to control adjustment of the sound quality of the content output from the external device.
 27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the content is image content or music content.
 28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the image content is a still image or a moving image. 